Sliding Closure for a Metallurgical Vessel

ABSTRACT

A sliding closure for a metallurgical vessel comprises an elongated refractory slide plate ( 2 ), which is exchangeably arranged in a metal frame ( 1 ) and the longitudinal direction (L) of which corresponds to the direction of displacement of the sliding closure. Also provided are means ( 3 ) for bracing the slide plate ( 2 ) in the metal frame ( 1 ), which comprise a wedge shoe ( 10 ) that is loaded by a spring ( 9 ) and can be adjusted transversely in relation to the direction of displacement of the sliding closure. This wedge shoe ( 10 ) is operatively connected to a counterpart ( 11 ), which can be brought into connection with the slide plate ( 2 ) and acts on the slide plate ( 2 ) in its longitudinal direction (L). The oscillating movements of the movable slide plate taking place during operation are absorbed and the bracing device ensures satisfactory bracing of this slide plate at any time.

The invention relates to a sliding closure for a metallurgical vessel according to the preamble to Claim 1.

With sliding closures it is known for their refractory, exchangeable closure plates to be braced in corresponding metal frames or in the housing by means of adjustable screws which engage directly around the periphery of the respective plate. Here, in particular with the moveable slide plate, which is constantly set in oscillating motion by its drive during operation, there is a danger that the adjustable screw or the adjustable screws will be undesirably loosened and that the bracing, and so the whole operation, will be negatively effected.

The object which forms the basis of the present invention is to provide a sliding closure of the type specified at the start wherein the danger of the plate bracing being negatively effected during operation will be largely eliminated.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a sliding closure with the features of Claim 1.

Further preferred embodiments of the sliding closure according to the invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

With the sliding closure according to the invention the oscillation movements of the moveable slide plate which take place during operation are absorbed and the bracing device guarantees efficient bracing of this slide plate at all times.

In the following the invention is described in greater detail by means of the drawings. These show as follows:

FIG. 1 a top view of a metal frame with a slide plate braced therein by means of a bracing device as part of a sliding closure according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 the metal frame with the slide plate according to FIG. 1 and with the bracing device in an ineffectual position.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 part of a sliding closure usable on the spout of a metallurgical vessel is shown which comprises a metal frame 1 and a refractory elongated slide plate 2 exchangeably arranged in the metal frame 1. The slide plate 2 provided with an aperture 5 is braced in the metal frame 1 by means of a bracing device 3. Whereas FIG. 1 shows the bracing device 3 in its effectual position, in FIG. 2 the ineffectual position of the bracing device 3 is illustrated in which, for example, a plate exchange can be implemented. The metal frame 1 can also be a housing part of the sliding closure with which the slide plate is not moveable itself, but is also subjected to an oscillatory force by the oscillating slide plate adjacent to the latter.

The slide plate 2 is the moveable slide plate of the sliding closure, which by being displaced in its longitudinal direction L in relation to at least one fixed slide plate enables the spout of the container, e.g. of a steel foundry ladle or of an intermediate distributor to be closed, restricted or opened in a way known in its own right. For this purpose the metal frame 1 accommodating the slide plate 2 can be coupled with its end part 4 to a drive likewise in a way known in its own right and so not described in any greater detail.

The bracing device 3 comprises a wedge shoe 10 adjustable transversely to the direction of displacement of the sliding closure, loaded with a spring 9, and which is operatively connected to a counterpart 11 which can be brought into form lock and friction lock connection with the slide plate 2 and acts on the slide plate 2 in its longitudinal direction L. The counterpart 11, which has contact surfaces 12, 13 corresponding to the peripheral shape of the slide plate 2 is displaceably moved within the metal frame 1 in the longitudinal direction L of the slide plate 2. With the exemplary embodiment shown corresponding guide surfaces 14, 15 are produced in side walls 16, 17 of a substantially U-shaped recess 20 in the metal frame 1. The wedge shoe 10 lying with its wedge surface 18 on a counter wedge surface 19 is supported here on a transverse wall 21 connecting the side walls 16, 17 of the recess 20. The spring 9 loading the wedge shoe 10 is supported between the wedge shoe and the one side wall 16.

The wedge shoe 10 is screw-connected to an adjustable screw 26 passed loosely through an opening 25 of the metal frame 1 transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the slide plate 2, and said adjustable screw is screwed into a pin 28 inserted into the wedge shoe 10 and provided with a threaded hole 27. The adjustable screw 26 and the pin 38 are arranged at right angles in relation to one another. The adjustable screw 26 has a screw head 29 which, when the adjustable screw 26 is manipulated in a direction of rotation comes to rest on a ledge surface 30 (FIG. 2) of the opening 25. In order to restrict the movement of the adjustable screw upon manipulation in the other direction of rotation, a banking pin 33 is inserted into the metal frame 1 which engages in an elongated recess 34 in the adjustable screw 26 and interacts with a stop surface 35 of the latter.

The spring 9 acting on the wedge shoe 10 is arranged co-axially to the adjustable screw 26.

The wedge shoe 10 and the counterpart 11 are operatively connected to one another, not only by means of their wedge surfaces 18, 19, but also by means of guide surfaces 32 so that the adjustment of the wedge shoe 10 transversely to the direction of displacement of the closure in both directions results in a corresponding adjustment of the counterpart 11 in longitudinal direction L.

If the slide plate 2 braced in the metal frame 1 according to FIG. 1 by means of the bracing device 3 and pressed by the counterpart 11 onto contact surfaces 40, 41, 42, 43 is, for example, to be exchanged, by manipulating the adjustable screw 26 in the one direction of rotation the screw head 29 is adjusted until it lies on the ledge surface 30 of the opening 25. Consequently, upon turning the adjustable screw further the wedge shoe 10 is adjusted against the force of the spring 9 in the recess until the spring 9 is compressed (see FIG. 2). This wedge shoe adjustment also brings about, by means of the guide surfaces 30, the adjustment of the counterpart 11 away from the slide plate 2 which can now be taken out of the metal frame 1.

In order to brace a slide plate 2 newly inserted in the metal frame 1, the adjustable screw 26 is manipulated in the other direction of rotation, by means of which the wedge shoe 10 is moved in the direction of force of the spring 9 and the counterpart 11 is moved back to the slide plate 2. As soon as the contact surfaces 12, 13 of the counterpart 11 come to rest on the peripheral surface of the slide plate 2, the slide plate 2 is braced by the force of the spring 9, the adjustable screw 26 moving away from the ledge surface 30 when the screw head 29 is manipulated further until the positioning movement is stopped by the banking pin 33 which comes to rest on the stop surface 35. The banking pin 33 prevents the adjustable screw 26 from being able to be unscrewed right out of the wedge screw and its pin 28. The presence of the pin 28 is not absolutely necessary. The adjustable screw 26 could also be screwed directly into the wedge shoe 10. However, the pin 28 advantageously allows a certain amount of freedom from play for individual parts of the pre-tensioning device 3.

With the sliding closure according to the invention the oscillation movements of the moveable slide plate 2 that take place during operation are absorbed by the spring 9 and the bracing device 3 guarantees efficient bracing of this slide plate at all times.

In the present exemplary embodiment the set angle of the wedge shoe 10 or of the counterpart 11 is approx. 10°. Care should be taken here to ensure that this chosen angle is not too small so that there is no self-locking so that the wedge shoe would become clamped too strongly. This set angle is preferably between 3 and 15°. 

1. A sliding closure for a metallurgical vessel comprising an elongated refractory slide plate (2), which is exchangeably arranged in a metal frame (1) and the longitudinal length (L) of which corresponds to the direction of displacement of the sliding closure, with means (3) for bracing the slide plate (2) in the metal frame (1), characterised in that the means (3) for bracing the slide plate (2) comprise a wedge shoe (10) that is loaded by a spring (9) and can be adjusted transversely in relation to the direction of displacement of the sliding closure, which is operatively connected to a counterpart (11), which can be brought into connection with the slide plate (2) and acts on the slide plate (20) in its longitudinal direction (L).
 2. The sliding closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the counterpart (11) is displaceably moved in the metal frame (1) in the longitudinal direction of the slide plate (2), the wedge shoe (10) acing on the counterpart (11) via the wedge surface (18) and via guide surfaces (32) being supported on a transverse wall (21) of the metal frame (1) arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the slide plate (2).
 3. The sliding closure according to claim 2, characterised in that the counterpart (11) is moved displaceably in side walls (16, 17) of a substantially U-shaped recess (20) of the metal frame (1), and the wedge shoe (10) is supported on the transverse wall (21) connecting the side walls (16, 17) of the recess (20).
 4. The sliding closure according to claim 2, characterised in that the wedge shoe (10) is in screw connection with an adjustable screw (26) moved transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) of the slide plate (2) in an opening (25) of the metal frame (1) and by means of which it can be adjusted against the force of the spring (9) and the counterpart (11) can thus be brought into a position releasing the slide plate (2).
 5. The sliding closure according to claim 4, characterised in that in order to adjust the wedge shoe (10) against the force of the spring (9) the adjustable screw (26) screwed into the wedge shoe (10) can be manipulated in a direction of rotation until a screw head (29) comes to rest on a ledge surface (30) of the opening (25), and that upon manipulating the adjustable screw (26) in the other direction of rotation the wedge shoe (10) is adjustable in the direction of force of the spring (9), upon laying the counterpart (1) on the slide plate (2) the latter being braceable by the spring force while lifting the screw head (29) from the ledge surface (30).
 6. The sliding closure according to claim 4, characterised in that the adjustable screw (26) is screwed into a threaded hole (27) of a pin (28) inserted into the wedge shoe (10) and arranged at right angles to the adjustable screw (26).
 7. The sliding closure according to claim 4, characterised in that the spring (9) acting on the wedge shoe is arranged co-axially to the adjustable screw (26) and is supported between the wedge shoe (10) and one of the side walls (16, 17) of the substantially U-shaped recess (20) of the metal frame (1).
 8. The sliding closure according to claim 1, characterised in that the set angle of the wedge shoe is between 3 and 15°. 